The new British ambassador to Ireland, Mr Stewart Eldon OBE, presented his credentials to President McAleese this morning.
Mr Eldon succeeds Sir Ivor Roberts, who served as ambassador for the past four years.
Fifty-year-old Mr Eldon was previously the British Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, and comes to his new post after spending time as a visiting Fellow at Harvard University.
He has previously worked on Irish Affairs in the Republic of Ireland Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
Presenting his credentials, Mr Eldon said he was looking forward to working closely with the Government to further develop relations between the two countries, and referred specifically to the "vital need" for close co-operation given the current situation in Northern Ireland.